Harpers Ferry Bridge Replacement

Harpers Ferry was the backdrop for remarkable and unparalleled events in America's history, such as the Native American culture, John Brown and Abolitionism, the Civil War, industry and transportation, and the natural environment. In 1963, Harpers Ferry was also designated as a National Historical Park with the Appalachian Trail and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath found within the park.

Modjeski and Masters began by developing a design which took into account the bridge’s social and economic impact on the surrounding community, the National Historic Park, the Appalachian Trail, recreational users of the river, and the traveling public. Our technical experts implemented both innovative and existing bridge technologies, including:

• Drilled Shafts - Designed by our bridge experts to minimize the footprint of the bridge and resulting impact on river users.
• Reverse Curvature of the Alignment in the Horizontal Direction – An organic alignment chosen to enhance the natural beauty of the Harpers Ferry Water Gap while subtly introducing traffic calming features.
• Uncoated Weathering Steel – A natural material choice for the superstructure to blend exceptionally well with the environment and compliments the colors of the fall foliage.
• Span Continuity – The elimination of roadway joints to provide for a more pleasing ride for both vehicles and cyclists.

This project won several awards including the West Virginia Association of Consulting Engineers Gold Award.